Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy announced tonight that the city would be sending to Trenton tomorrow a layoff plan for 82 police officers and seven civilian police department employees following the collapse of negotiations between the administration and the police union.

Part of the layoff plan includes the demotion of two captains, four lieutenants, and six sergeants.

City officials said tonight that the proposal before the Police Officers Benevolent Association (POBA) included a pay lag that would save the city approximately $3.4 million and cost the officers nothing, and a one-time give back of the officers' $1,300 annual uniform allowance that would save an additional $1.2 million.

In addition to these concessions, the administration - in conjunction with Police Director Sam Jefferson and Police Chief Tom Comey - had also identified other cuts and revenue sources that would save the city another $2.4 million, city officials said.

These efforts, combined with the union concessions, would have avoided police department layoffs altogether, they emphasized.

"The first of January is only a month away and with it comes a new budget year, new tax bills, and a 2 percent legislative hard cap on property taxes," Healy said in a statement. "The POBA was asking that we re-open their contract, which is a process that could take several months. Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury of time. We are hoping that we can still come to an agreement with the union before the layoffs take effect."

Jerry DeCicco, president of the Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association, said it was disingenuous of city officials to say "negotiations broke down."

"It really wasn't a negotiation," DeCicco said tonight. "It was more of a dictatorship. either you take $8 million dollars in concessions or we lay off 100 cops. That's not how a democratic system works."

Cpt. Joe DeLaney, president of the Jersey City Superior Officers Association, declined to comment.

In addition to these layoffs, the Jersey City Police Department already terminated 37 civilian employees in February.

"We have begun a restructuring plan that would go into effect on the 1st of January to minimize the impact in the services we provide," said Police Chief Comey.